Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit.
A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted.
2nd A/N: I was told no one reads these but PLEASE Review!
Chapter Ten – Lion Cub and Little Bird
Karla watched the pair of brothers as they interacted now after their fight, she found it reminiscent of what her father had said about her and Thorin. They would fight and within hours it was like nothing had happened. Just like it was with Fíli and Kíli.
"Thorin?" Thorin was at Karla's side in seconds. He offered to help her to her feet but she shook her head, "I'm not an invalid, Thorin. I was just wondering most children have nicknames right?" Thorin nodded. Silly Little Thorin rang in his ears. Sweet Garnet rang in Karla's. It had to do with Karla's dark hair and eyes. Her father had also often called her 'my little gem' but mostly it was Sweet Garnet. Frerin had been 'Little Warrior'. And Dis had simply been her father's 'little girl'. As it has been said times before Karla was Thrain's pride and joy.
"You wonder about Fíli and Kíli?" He asked.
"Just curious what Dis used to, or still does, call them?" Karla explained.
"I'm not sure if she still does, but I heard her call Fíli, Little Lion once. And Kíli…he's her little bird." Karla giggled.
"Do you remember what Father called me?" She asked.
"I remember Silly Little Thorin." He said truthfully.
"He used to me call me Sweet Garnet or my little gem." She said her voice hitching slightly.
"He loved you very much. You were his Pride and Joy. Dis remained his little girl when you disappeared but she never replaced his little gem." Thorin said, "I caught him many times looking at a sketch that had been done of you, not long after you turned 18. He would stare at it and talk to it. Like he was talking to you. I don't know how many times I saw him staring at it. But he never lost hope that you were alive." Thorin said.
"Did anyone?" Karla asked, she hoped none of her family had.
"Dis did a few times. But as she grew older the feeling that you were alive grew for her and she firmly believed that you were alive. Frerin lost hope, he thought you were lost. I thought that if you were dead, the pin in my heart would have been much greater. Mother…didn't live long through Smaug's attack but in the two years between you leaving and Smaug taking the mountain…she lost all hope of ever seeing you again. Grandfather believed you to be alive he just didn't know where to start looking." Thorin said. Karla smiled, softly.
"No one knew. I was hidden extremely well by Azog. But now I am with my favourite people in the world and I am finally happy to be home." Karla whispered as she hugged her brother. The company hadn't seen Thorin show so much emotion before…but then Karla had been lost before.
"We're still a long way from home, missy." Dwalin said as he walked past.
"I know Dwalin, but it feels like home to be with everyone now. Especially Thorin, you, Balin and Bofur. It feels like home." Karla said with a soft smile at the slightly younger dwarf. Dwalin didn't blush like he might have years ago but he did smile in return slightly.
"Good Little Bird, very good." The younger dwarf spun around from practicing his archery in the woods – he was aiming at a knot in a tree – and smiled slightly when he saw his Aunt standing not ten feet away leaning against an oak with a smile in place.
"You're aiming too high though. May I?" Kíli nodded holding out the bow to her, she accepted the arrow he offered and watched as she notched the arrow, took aim. While he watched he also took in her actions. Fluid and strong, her stance was faultless and her concentration impenetrable. She closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled as she exhaled she let go and opened her eyes. The arrow flew true and struck the knot in the tree. Kíli frowned – he hadn't hit it yet and he'd been there for an hour at least. He then asked her to help him do that. She agreed and for the next fifteen minutes until Fíli joined them she corrected him. Not a lot, mostly he was perfect but he needed a little help. She told him obviously when in the battle field you couldn't close your eyes to compose yourself you had to go for broke but if his stance was right then he'd be an even better shot. Fíli was impressed.
"What about you Lion cub?" Karla asked turning to look at Fíli and had a sword tip to her chest.
"Twin swords. I didn't know Kíli needed instruction still." Fíli said with a smile.
Karla shook her head, "Not much. Just a correction to his stance." Fíli nodded and watched as Kíli hit the knot in the tree.
"I came to tell you that Bombur has nearly finished supper. I'm really glad we found you Karla, or Bombur would have third and fourth helpings. With an extra mouth – you stop him at seconds." Fíli said, Karla laughed.
"We'll be along in a minute." Karla said.
"By the way – no one since Mum has called us Little Bird and Lion Cub…I kind of wished Uncle would – because it makes us feel a bit homesick when you don't hear it. He told you didn't he?" Fíli said, Karla smiled.
"Well…I asked. But yes he told me. But I'll tell you something, your grandfather had nicknames for us too. Your mother – was simply his little girl. Frerin was father's little warrior. Thorin…he was to both our mother and father Silly Little Thorin – he was forever doing silly things – especially with me." Karla said as Kíli put away his arrows and slung his bow over his shoulder.
"What about you? What was your nickname?" Kíli prompted after a pause.
"I was my father's Sweet Garnet. For my dark hair and eyes." Karla smiled fondly and reached out to ruffle Kíli's hair.
"Sweet Garnet? Garnet is a gem stone isn't it?" Kíli said, not even trying to smooth his hair down.
Karla nodded, "It's very rare. Much like an Arkenstone. But along with Sweet Garnet he also called me his little gem sometimes." Karla told them as they began to walk back towards camp.
Karla's ankle was better as the company approached Erebor. She paused at the edge of the wood and looked at the mountain, she felt tears begin to burn her eyes and felt a hand on her waist. Turning she smiled at Bofur and she allowed a quick kiss before they continued on. She knew it would be hard for her being out of the battle that was sure to follow. They had to fight Smaug she knew that but they would no doubt have another battle on their hands. Azog would no doubt gather all the Orcs he could and take them to battle in front of Erebor's great gates. Karla felt a shiver go down her spine she never wanted this to happen to her family.
Erebor was like a precious family heirloom. And now they had to recover it from who had stolen it. And Karla needed her bow and arrows. If they could defeat Smaug before the war she knew was coming she could help them. And it didn't matter what Thorin said, he couldn't stop her. And he wouldn't dream of it anyway. He knew she never took orders from him. Not when they were kids and certainly not now.